Grant of the Island of Madeira to Catherine of Braganza 1The planned grant and its documents
Grant of the Island of Madeira to Catherine of Braganza
Original title: Doação da Ilha da Madeira á Infanta D. Catarina
Describes the precautionary documents, forged in 1660 under Queen Regent D. Luísa, granting Madeira to Infanta D. Catarina so that the island could be offered as dowry to secure English support during the Portuguese War of Independence. The sacrifice proved unnecessary, as England accepted trade privileges, Tangier and Bombay instead.
1The planned grant and its documents
Eager for firm support, so that Portugal would not succumb in the War of Independence, the country stood ready to make a great sacrifice that could be thrown promptly into the scales of our concessions to attract England’s help. The dearest jewel of Portugal was to be granted to the Infanta Queen Catherine, daughter of John IV and future Queen of England: among the bride’s gifts, if need be, would figure the flowering bouquet of the island of Madeira.
The queen regent, Dona Luísa, beset by bitterness under the weight of government, faced with an incapable heir and a court that was like a backstage of tangled political intrigues, did not wish to take upon herself the responsibility of alienating Madeira, nor to incur the curse of God invoked in the letter of Manuel I when he made the island Crown land (realenga) (vol. 1 of the Archive of the Municipal Council (Câmara Municipal) of Funchal). She therefore had a grant from the late king to his daughter forged, and sent it to the councils (Senados) of Funchal and Machico so that the documents might be registered. This curious point of history is discussed by Dr Álvaro Rodrigues de Azevedo in the notes to ‘Longing for the Homeland’ (Saudades da Terra), p. 384.
These were precautionary documents, for the text states that they were to be used ‘when the time comes’, in order to overcome any obstacle that might arise in the diplomatic negotiations.
In the Archive of the Municipal Council of Machico, curious documents on this subject are registered under the headings of Book 3, Part 1 (fol. 158 v.: copy of His Majesty’s royal decree (alvará) of the royal grant made to the Lady Infanta Dona Catharina, 23 November 1660; fol. 261: copy of the power of attorney of the Lady Infanta Dona Catharina, 18 November 1660; royal decree declaring the manner in which the Lady Infanta Dona Catharina is to use the grants made to her by His Majesty her august father).
2Outcome and sources
At that time the legend of the English lovers who had landed on this island was also revived, in order to lend colour to a supposed English priority in the discovery and so to soften the pain of losing Madeira, should that prove necessary. (See Robert Machin)
So great a sacrifice was not needed. Freedom of English trade in Brazil and the East Indies, together with Tangier and Bombay, ‘keys of the Mediterranean and of India’, satisfied British diplomacy, which remained unaware of the documents mentioned above, since they were of a somewhat confidential nature.
There is a pamphlet entitled Um Ponto de Historia Pátria (Funchal, 1914), an offprint of articles published in the Heraldo da Madeira (‘Madeira Herald’), nos 2815–16 and 2823–24, which deals with this subject. S.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 02-
Madeira was granted to Infanta D. Catarina de Bragança by royal warrant of 23 November 1660 (procuration dated 18 November), and Governor Furtado presented the donation deed to the Funchal council for registration on 7 December; it was also registered at Machico.
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The pamphlet Um Ponto de Historia Pátria, on the donation of Madeira to the Infanta D. Catarina, was published in Funchal.
Place
Places mentioned · 07
Abroad
- Brazil
English trade freedom there was part of the settlement.
Brazil is recorded in the Elucidário as a chief destination of Madeiran emigrants, including several clergy and writers. It was also a market for Madeira wine and brandy and a maker of wickerwork from Madeiran osiers. It was linked to Madeira by the 1874 telegraph cable and is the native country of the araçá.
- England
United Kingdom. Power whose support Portugal sought.
England appears in the Elucidário as the first main market for Madeira embroidery and the main importer of Madeiran wicker. It was also the source of most butter consumed in Funchal in the early nineteenth century. It was a chief refuge for liberal emigrants fleeing Miguelist persecution, and several Madeirans studied or served as diplomats there.
- Funchal
Its council registered the grant.
The capital of the archipelago and seat of the principal captaincy, where settlement began; it was made a vila c.1451–52. Its bay, the widest in the archipelago, lies between Ponta do Garajau and Ponta da Cruz and offers sheltered anchorage, though its harbour had never been studied oceanographically. The Elucidário discusses it as a health resort with climate data and records the January 1906 disturbances, the Danish prince's visit in May 1846 and recent volcanic cones in the area.
- Machico
Its archive holds copies of the grant documents.
The parish of Machico was the landing place of the discoverers Zargo and Tristão Vaz and the seat of the captaincy of Machico; the parish was founded c. 1450. The Elucidário covers its clergy and stipends, chapels, historical events, mineral springs, localities, population and notable natives.
- Tangier
Morocco. Ceded to England instead of Madeira.
Tânger is a Moroccan city at whose siege Zarco reputedly lost an eye and covered Prince Henry's retreat; Rui and Simão Gonçalves da Câmara also fought there. It was taken with the Lemes' participation and became the see of a new diocese headed by D. Nuno de Aguiar. It was later ceded to England instead of Madeira.
People
People mentioned · 05- Álvaro Rodrigues de Azevedo1825–1898
Annotator of Saudades da Terra who discussed this episode.
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Daughter of João IV and future queen of England, to whom Madeira was to be granted as dowry if needed.
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King of Portugal in whose name the posthumous grant of Madeira to his daughter was drawn up.
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Queen regent who had the grant of Madeira forged and sent to the Funchal and Machico councils.
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King whose charter made Madeira Crown land and cursed anyone who alienated it.